Heyford Park – Energy Masterplan

Working with Dorchester Living, we developed an ambitious new energy masterplan that combines digital innovation, embedded renewable energy, a clear trajectory towards net-zero for their Heyford Park mixed-use site, set on an old RAF base in Oxfordshire, to house 9,000 dwellings and commercial infrastructure.

At the heart of the energy strategy is an advanced decentralised energy system connecting on-site renewable energy sources including three 900kW wind turbines, over 5MWp of ground-mounted solar, and extensive embedded solar across with large-scale energy storage. Together, these installations will generate more than 50,000MWh annually.

This renewable generation is integrated through a smart micro-grid, a digital platform that co-ordinates and optimises all energy assets on site. The system acts as a Virtual Power Plant using autonomous energy management software to balance supply and demand in real time. It can operate both independently and alongside the national grid, providing enhanced energy resilience and the flexibility to adapt as new clean technologies emerge.

By combining local renewables with digital optimisation and large-scale storage, including utility-scale battery technology and distributed thermal storage to meet a large proportion of its energy demand sustainably onsite. This approach supports a defined carbon reduction pathway, with the target of achieving near net zero by 2035 and the long-term ambition of becoming the UK’s first town self-sufficient in its own renewable energy.

• Strong leadership and advice based on knowledge and experience
• The first UK energy surplus town through renewable energy
• A balance of people and environment, protecting and enhancing biodiversity.

Credit for photography: Dorchester Living